Angelman

My name is Rhys
& my brother Harley has Angelman Syndrome

He was born in 1983 and grew up a family of eight in the northwest of Sydney, Australia.

Being the next born after Harley meant my life has been full of questions and possibly what inspired me to become a documentary film maker.

For the last 10 years, I have been documenting other families living with AS

This journey has taken me across the length and breadth of Australia, documenting the rich diversity of AS experiences. From Darwin to Hobart, Sydney to Perth, and countless places in between, I’ve seen how this tiny genetic glitch can have a profoundly different impact on each individual. The era someone is born into, and the place they call home, add further layers of nuance to philosophies of care and access to therapies.

The film below was our first chapter, made in 2015.

At the same time, a therapeutic is moving FAST

FAST - The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics have been working with reserachers and big pharma to get several possible therapies into clinical trial. And with each attempt, they get one step closer to finding a cure.

And now I am looking for your help

I believe we can use cinema to help find a cure

A good story can change perspectives, but a great story will change lives.

To achieve this, I have set out
a roadmap over the next five years

2026

Fundraise a small amount to continue capturing stories of AS families.

2027

Apply for support from Screen Australia and other film grants. This will fund the majority of post production.

2028

Partner with the ideal streaming partner to reach the widest audience possible

If you would like to be a part,
then please fill out the form below

The opinions of this film production are that of the film maker Rhys Votano only. Meagan Cross and the team at FAST Australia have been strong supporters in bringing this story to life.

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